Lock mechanism



E. OBRIEN LOCK MECHANISM Oct. lG. 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. l2, 1955 Oct. 16, 1956 E. OBRn-:N 2,766,605

LOCK MECHANISM Filed Sept. l2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'l 0, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII /A IN V EN TOR. gaaf/yf 0 25W/HV Oct. 16, 1956 E. oBRn-:N

Loox MECHANISM 4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Sept. l2, 1955 E. O'BRIEN LOCK MECHANIS Oct. 16, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. l2, 1955 i ull n. A Y. I:

INVENTOR. 06f/Vf 059/51/ United States Patent LOCK MECHANISM Eugene OBrien, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application September 12, 1955, Serial No. 533,658

10 Claims. (Cl. 70-8) This invention relates to a lock mechanism which attains unusual strength and security although its primary securing member is an inexpensive conventional padlock.

Heretofore it was the shackle of the padlock which engaged the staple. Irrespective of the strength of the shackle and staple, a twisting action could be applied to break either part. Furthermore, the position of the lock was such as to render it accessible to picking. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a lock mechanism which overcomes these disadvantages by employing a conventional padlock in which the body and not the shackle engages the staple. Thus increased strength can be obtained with a relatively inexpensive padlock since the present lock mechanism relies for its security not on the shackle but rather on the body of the padlock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock mechanism in which all the locking members are concealed thus making them inaccessible to force. The lock includes a housing which not only conceals the padlock and staple but is itself releasably locked by the padlock and thereby itself acts as a securing member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock mechanism of the character described in which the padlock shackle is secured to a latching mechanism which, when the lock is closed, simultaneously latches the housing which conceals the padlock and staple and locks both members of the hingle plate together. Thus, even if the hinge pin is removed, the mechanism still functions as an eiiective lock.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide a lock mechanism which is not only strong but is also easy to operate, relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture and assemble.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the lock mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hinge members;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the housing member per se looking generally from the left of Fig. l;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 9 but looking in the opposite direction;

Fig. 11 is a group perspective view of the latch for the housing and illustrating the manner of securing thereto the padlock, shown in phantom; and

Fig. l2 is a bottom plan View of the latch and padlock.

Specilic reference is nowjmade to the drawings wherein 'ice similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

The present lock mechanism may be used to secure any two members 1() and 12 together, such for example asa door and a door jamb. The mechanism includes, a. plate 14 which is secured by suitable fasteners such as screws 16 to the member 10, the plate including an upsta-nd'ing generally U-shaped staple 18 anda pair of outstruck gen.- erally V-shaped bosses 20 adjacent its edge opposite the separation 21 of the two members 1t) and 12. The bosses are open at their bottoms and their ends facing the.- separation 21 as seen more clearly in Fig. 8.

Secured by suitable fasteners such as screws 22 tothe other member 12 is another plate 24, with the edge adjacent to the separation 21 including an upstanding L-shaped lug 26. As is conventional the other edge of the plate is provided with a pin 28 which hingedly secures a further plate or hasp 30.

The free end of the hasp 30 includes a finger. grip 32 and adjacent said end the hasp includes a pair of gener.- ally Vshaped outstruck bosses 34 which are open at` their bottoms and ends facing the hinge pin but are slightly larger `than the bosses 20 of the plate 14. The hasp 30 also includes a stamped-out rectangular portion 36 which has a slot 38 and a stamped-out generally L-shaped ope-n` bottomed member 40 with stamped-out or raised longi tudinal ribs 42 and a rib 44 surrounding allbut onel edge of the rectangular portion 36. When the hasp 30 is in a closed position bridging the separation 21, the slot 38 receives the staple 18, the bosses 34 tit over the bosses 20 and the member 40 receives the L-shaped lug 26.

A conventional padlock 46 is provided. As is well known in the art a padlock is a key-operated mechanism', tumbler or warded, having a body 48 and a U-shaped shackle 50 which is operatively connected thereto. The shackle moves longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis of the body and it may swivel or hinge when opened. In the present construction a box-like member 52 is provided, the bottom wall 5'3 of which is cutaway as at 5.4; the forward end of which is open as at 56 and the upper wall of which includes a forwardly extending generally L-shaped latch bar 58. Secured inwardly ofthe member 52 to the upper wall is an internally threaded socket member 60 around which the shackle 50 of the padlock extends, there to be secured by an appropriate washer 62 and threaded bolt 64 as shown clearly in Figs. ll and4 1.2.`

The linal structural unit of the present lock mechanism is a box-like housing 66 having a peripheral dimension which is somewhat larger than that of the rectangular portion 36 of the hasp 30 but somewhat smallerl than that of the rib 44. The rear wall 68 of the housing includes a central keyhole 70 and a pair of downwardly and rearwardly inclined lugs 72 which are adapted' to be inserted in the bosses 20 of the plate 14 as shown more clearly in Fig. 7.

The contour of the upper Wall 74 of the housingyis generally L-shaped and therefore includes a centralshoulder 76. The housing includes side walls 78 and a front wall 80 but no bottom wall. The front wall 80 includes outstruck vertical ribs 82 which are spaced apart, to bear against the sides of the padlock-retaining member 52. The front wall also includes adjacent its upper wall an indented portion forming a slot 84 adapted to receive the lug 58 of the member 52, a slot 86y openingthrough the bottom edge of the wall and adapted to receive onearm of the padlock shackle 50 and another slot 88,; generally bayonet in shape, which opens into the slot. 84jfand is adapted to receive the other arm of the padlock shackle l 20 enter the bosses 34. The body 48 of the padlock is positioned through the staple. The housing 66 is then placed over the staple and padlock body by making the lugs 72 thereof engage in the bosses 2l). In the positioning of the housing the swivel ann of the padlock shackle 50 enters the slot 86 of the wall 84 of the housing and the shackle and attached member 52 are rotated so that the free arm of the padlock shackle is in position to enter the slot 88 and the padlock body 48 itself and the latch bar 58 of the member 52 is in position to enter the slot 84 of the wall 80 of the housing. This position is shown in phantom in Fig. 3.

The socket member 60, washer 62 and bolt 64 serve to secure the member 52 to the shackle 50. When pressure is exerted on the member 52 towards the housing 66, the shackle and member 52 move together, the shackle snapping shut in the padlock. When the padlock is snapped shut, from the phantom to the solid lines, the latch bar 58 enters the slot S4, the free arm of the shackle enters the slot 88 and locks into the body 48 of the padlock, and the member 52 moves to a position where its bottom wall 53 hooks beneath the horizontal arm of the lug 26 which had previously entered the portion 40 of the hasp 30.

Thus in the closed position, the housing 66 and member 52 are locked to each other and function to completely conceal the staple and padlock. The member 52 also serves to lock together the hinge plate 24 and the hasp 30. Removal of the hinge pin 28 will therefore not effect' a separation of the hinge plate and hasp. Moreover "relative longitudinal and lateral movement of the parts is minimized because the staple 18 bears against the shoulder 76 of the housing and the latter is retained between the rectangular portion 36 and the rib 44, the latter being rounded to prevent insertion of a prying instrument beneath the bottom edge of the housing. Similarly, the shackle-retaining memberSE is retained between the longitudinal ribs 42 of the hasp 38. Moreover, because the axis of the key slot of the padlock is generally parallel to the members and 12, picking of the padlock becomes diicult to carry out.

When a key which is inserted through the hole 79 and into the padlock body is turned the shackle 50 opens moving the member 52 into the position shown in phantom in Fig. 3. Here, the latch bar 58 has left the slot 84, the free arm of the shackle has lett the slot 88 and the bottom wall 53 of the member 52 has moved out of engagement with the lug 26. The member 52 is then reversely rotated so that the free arm of the shackle clears the slot 88. The housing is then raised and removed and the padlock body is slid out of the staple and removed with the member 52 as a unit. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described hereabove, skilled artisans may make minor variations without departing from the spirit 'ofthe invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A lock mechanism comprising a staple,l a hasp having a slot through which said staple extends, a padlock consisting of a body and shackle, said padlock body bearing on said hasp and extending through said staple, a housing removably mounted on said hasp and covering said p 'adlock body and staple, and means secured to said shackle and'adapted to lock and unlock said housing selectively with the closing and opening of said padlock. 2. The device of claim l wherein said housing includes a wall having slots receiving the arms -of said shackle and a further slot extending through said wall, said lastnamed means including a member securing said shackle and having a latch bar and lug, said latch bar being in position to enter and leave said further slot upon closing andv opening said padlock and said lug being in position to Iockingly engage and disengage a portion of said hasp.

1 3. The device of claim l wherein said hasp includes a pair of superimposed plates hinged to each other and said last-named means includes a further means to lock and unlock said plates selectively with the closing and opening of said padlock.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said further means includes a substantially L-shaped lug upstanding from one of said plates, a slot in said other plate receiving said lug and a substantially L-shapcd member about said slot and embracing said lug, said means secured to said shackle and adapted to lock and unlock said housing including a box-like member having a wall adapted to engage and disengage said lug and L-shaped .member upon closing and opening of said padlock.

5. A lock mechanism to secure two members together comprising a iirst plate having an upstanding staple adapted to be secured to one member, a second plate adapted to be secured to the other member, a third plate longer than and hinged to one end of said second plate, said third plate including a slot through which said staple extends, a padlock having a body and a shackle, said body bearing on Said third plate and extending through said staple, a housing removably secured on said third plate and embracing said padlock body and staple, a box-like member secured to said shackle, means carried by said box-like member selectively to lock and unlock said housing and a further means selectively to secure to and release said member from said second and third plates upon locking and opening of said padlock.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein one wall of said housing includes a shoulder bearing against said staple and said third plate includes an upstruck portion bearing against the inner peripheral surface of said housing, said shoulder and upstruck portion serving to restrain relative movement between said housing and said third plate.

7. The device of claim 6 and an upstruck rounded rib in said third plate around said housing serving to prevent insertion of a prying tool beneath the edge of said housing which bears on said third plate.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein one Wall of said housing includes a pair of spaced slots receiving the arms of said shackle and a further slot in said one wall, and said means to lock and unlock said housing includes a latch bar carried by said box-like member in position to enter and leave said further slot upon locking and opening of said padlock.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein said further means includes a substantially L-shaped lug upstanding from said second plate, a slot in said third plate receiving said lug, a substantially L-shaped member about said slot and embracing said lug and a wall in said box-like member, adapted toengage beneath and disengage from the horizontal arms of said L-shaped lug and said L-shaped member upon locking and opening of said padlock.

l0. In a locking mechanism including a staple and an elongated hasp including a slot through which the staple extends, a key-operated padlock having an elongated body with a key slot at one end and a shackle extending through the other end, the body of the padlock bearing lengthwise on said hasp and extending through said staple, a housing embracing said body and staple and including a keyhole adapted to align with said key slot, a member secured to said shackle, means releasably locking said housing and member together upon locking said padlock and means releasably -locking said membe to said hasp upon locking said padlock.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,673,329 Hart June 12,1928

FOREIGN PATENTS 9,418 Great Britain s May 4, 1896 

